Based on headcounts, outcomes and education provision made available, to develop comparable statistics and indicators on students with disabilities, learning difficulties and disadvantages (SENDDD) to inform national and international policy-making.

Project summary

Recording of data annually by national statistical agencies on an electronic questionnaire, covering pre-school to upper secondary stages of education.

Transformation of data into an internationally agreed framework of categories comprising students with disabilities, learning difficulties and disadvantages.

Indicators produced include information on the prevalence of different categories of students by age and stage, ISCED level on place of education (special school, special class or regular school classes), gender, teacher-student ratio, and the nature of facilities provided. In addition, qualitative data are provided on legal frameworks and facilitators and barriers to inclusion.

Developing statistical work on SENDDD students in further and higher education.

Preparatory work is underway for developing PISA for these students who are often entitled to accommodation in testing arrangements.

A similar programme is also being implemented in North, Central and South America following its launch in Mexico City in 2003.

Stakeholders/Participants

The following 29 countries or provinces have participated or are participating in the project by providing either qualitative or quantitative data referring to the school years 1996, 1999, and 2001: Austria, Belgium (Flemish and French Communities), Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick and Saskatchewan), the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovak Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.